Getting around Barcelona

Barcelona has an efficient, integrated public transport network, run by several companies but with a single ATM ticketing system. The old centre is walkable, but to reach the Sagrada Família, Park Güell, Montjuïc or the beaches the metro is essential. It is part of the Barcelona guide.

The metro

Barcelona's metro has 12 lines: lines 1-5 and 9-11 are run by TMB, lines 6, 7, 8 and 12 by the Generalitat Railways (FGC). The most useful lines for visitors:

• L1 (red): plaça d'Espanya, plaça de Catalunya, Arc de Triomf.
• L2 (purple): Sagrada Família, Passeig de Gràcia, Paral·lel.
• L3 (green): Liceu (Rambla), Drassanes, Passeig de Gràcia, Fontana (Gràcia), Lesseps (Park Güell), Paral·lel.
• L4 (yellow): Jaume I (Born), Barceloneta, Ciutadella-Vila Olímpica, Passeig de Gràcia.
• L5 (blue): Sagrada Família, Diagonal, Sants, Hospital de Sant Pau.
• L9 Sud: the airport.

Hours: Monday to Thursday and Sunday from 5am to midnight; Fridays and the eve of holidays until 2am; all night on Saturdays.

Tickets

Barcelona is divided into fare zones, but the whole city is in zone 1.

The T-casual is the best choice for most visitors: 10 trips at 1.30 euros each, valid on metro, buses, trams, FGC and Rodalies in zone 1, with free changes within 75 minutes. It is personal: everyone needs their own. Tickets are sold at station machines, including by card, and increasingly loaded onto phones or the rechargeable T-mobilitat card. The Hola Barcelona tourist ticket is only worth it if you make many trips a day and use the metro to the airport.

Buses and trams

TMB's red buses cover the whole city, with high-frequency H (horizontal), V (vertical) and D (diagonal) grid lines. At night the NitBus buses run, almost all from plaça de Catalunya. The tram links the Diagonal with the upper city and the Vila Olímpica with the Fòrum and Badalona. The Bus Turístic is the hop-on hop-off tourist service, convenient but pricier.

Funiculars, cable cars and trains

• The Montjuïc funicular, included in the standard ticket, leaves from Paral·lel station up towards the Miró Foundation; from there the Montjuïc cable car goes to the castle (see Montjuïc).
• The port cable car links Barceloneta with Montjuïc, with spectacular views.
• The Tibidabo funicular climbs to the amusement park from plaça del Doctor Andreu.
• FGC trains go to Sarrià, Tibidabo, Montserrat, Sabadell and Terrassa.
• Rodalies trains link the city with the airport, Sitges, the coast and the province.
• Sants station is the departure point for high-speed trains to Madrid, Girona, France and the rest of Spain (see Madrid-Barcelona trains).

Taxis and apps

Barcelona's taxis are black and yellow; hail them when the green light is on or call them via apps. Fares are regulated, with surcharges for the airport, port, stations and holiday nights.

Bikes, scooters and cars

• Bicing, the public bike scheme, is for residents only; visitors can rent bikes from the many private shops.
• The city has over 200 km of cycle lanes; the seafront is perfect for cycling.
• E-scooters are not allowed on public transport.
• Driving in Barcelona is not recommended: traffic, expensive parking and a low-emission zone across the metropolitan area. A car is only useful for day trips (see day trips from Barcelona).

Tips

• The metro is pickpocket territory, especially lines 1, 3 and 4 and tourist stations: backpack in front.
• Many central distances are better on foot: from the Gothic Quarter to the Born and Barceloneta is a few minutes.
• For Park Güell get off at Lesseps or Vallcarca and prepare for a climb, or take bus V19 or 24.

To arrive in the city see from the airport to the centre.